Wilmington City Councilwoman Shané Darby Hosts Community Meeting Following Closure Decision of the Plummer Center
February 9, 2026
The event will be held Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wilmington Police Athletic League.
Wilmington, DE — In response to the upcoming closure of the Plummer Community Corrections Center, 2nd District Councilwoman Shané Darby is calling residents, families, advocates, and community stakeholders together for a Community Meeting focused on organizing, informing, and mobilizing the community around the future of this critical facility.
The community meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wilmington Police Athletic League (PAL), located at 3707 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802.
This meeting is open to anyone with a relative currently incarcerated who is from New Castle County, as well as residents and community members who have been directly or indirectly impacted by the Plummer Center’s services and presence.
For decades, the Plummer Center served as a vital reentry resource for men nearing release, offering work-release opportunities, skills training, and a pathway to successful reintegration often allowing individuals to remain close to their families, employment, and community support systems. Its closure has raised serious concerns about access to services, family connection, public safety, and long-term community impact.
“This is a community conversation and a call to action,” said Councilwoman Darby. “Families who have loved ones incarcerated deserve to be heard. The Plummer Center played a role in keeping families connected and helping individuals successfully reenter society. Decisions of this magnitude should not be made without community voices at the center.”
File photo: Community meeting held at the Wilmington PAL
The Community Meeting will provide an opportunity for attendees to:
- Share information regarding the Plummer Center’s closure
- Voice concerns, personal experiences, and ideas directly with elected leadership
- Discuss collective next steps and potential paths forward
- Build unity and advocacy around preserving and strengthening reentry and family-centered resources
Councilwoman Darby strongly encourages families from New Castle County with incarcerated relatives, former program participants, neighbors, advocates, faith leaders, and concerned residents to attend and participate.
About the Plummer Center: The Plummer Community Corrections Center in Wilmington, Delaware, is the state’s oldest work-release and skills training facility for male offenders, helping them reintegrate into the community through jobs and programs, but it is scheduled to close in March 2026 due to declining inmate populations and high maintenance costs for the aging facility. Located in a residential area, it allowed inmates nearing release to live near family and jobs, but the closure aims to save money for the Department of Correction (DOC) and reinvest in other facilities. In September 2025, the DOC announced that corrections officials cited a drop in the number of people at Plummer, along with high maintenance costs at the century-old facility. They estimated that the state would have to spend about $4 million over the next two years to maintain the Plummer Center.
Event Details:
What: Community Meeting on the Closure of the Plummer Center
When: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Wilmington PAL, 3707 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19802